Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-05-13

of his coat, aud was in his leather
! apron in jify.
Couldn't help it, Mr.. Gadford.
+ Mothers sick. Ny aunt is there
now, sir, and 1 gness III be on time
after this" as he took shovelful of
Goals from his masters forge to light
his own.
mo excuse needed in a case like
this" replied the blacksmith, slowly.
mo fault to find with you on that
score, Jerry"
ANY fault to find anywhere, sir?'
queried his apprentice, the roar from
the bellows almost drowning his
voice.
Not gene'lly, not 'tickerly, boy;
but still l might say, in a fatherly
kind of a way, that you're gettin' just
g little too sraart for cub"
"'Too smart for a cub'-what do
you mean, sir 2" cried our hero, with
a flushed face.
What do l mean 2" replied his
master, with a loud laugh-"why,
list what I've said, of course. What
have | been doin' these thirty years !!
Tendin' to my trade, havn't 81?
When | worked as a prentice | acted
ike one. You don't, you see. Who
ever heerd of feller in your place
studyin' grammar, and borrowin'
books to read after night? When
you go home, doc like | did-keep
your mind on your bis'ness. Don't
think of nothin' but that. | don't
want no scholar here for cub, nor
no one that stands off from the crowd
aud won't be drawed into no talk un-
! less it's related of to some eddicated
thing or mother. You're soarin' too
much, young man. / don't like it.
Nobody else does. Now git to work
and quit it !"
Jerry stood for one moment irreso-
Lutte. His face was hot with passion,
and savage rejoinder was on his
tongue, but be thought of his mother.
In spite Of his Darrowness, his mas
ter was kind, and an excellent work
man SO he turned On his heel and
whistled. Mr.. Gadford glared at him
savagely out of tie corner of his eye,
and had it On his lps to order the
MUSIC stopped, but thought better of
it, and pounded his thumb with the
hammer instead.
Blaketown could bost of but one
dry goods store, but that was an un-
usually large and extensive one for so
small place. Mr.. Silas Upton, the
proprietor, had done a thriving bust
ness that pleasant April day, and be
watched the sun declining behind the
hills with no particular regret. But
trade was not done yet, apparently,
for no less person than our friend
Jerry Altman entered, and advanced
toward the counter.
"And what can | do for you, my
friend?" inquired the merchant, rub
bing his hands, and smiling bland
ly.
"But very little, sir; hardly worth
your time and trouble; only pair of
suspenders, and not very expensive
ones either"
"Here they are, strong as a rope,
az elastic as-as you are, | take it,"
glancing at the young mans large,
well-knit frame
They look like good ones, that's a
fact. You needn't mind doing them
up. | will pay you Saturday night
when get my wages"
With deft movement, Mr.. Upton
snatcbed the suspenders from the
purchasers hands, and tossed them
back into the box, with the word:
Don't begin that way, young
man. Don't start out in life by ask
ing credit. Come, let me give you a
lesson. Pay as you go. Ifyou can't
pay, don't buy That is the way |
began. It's the only way to begin.
Don't spend your money before you
get it. That's my advice, and you'll
thank me for it some day.
1t is needless to inform the reader
that our friend Jerry was somewhat
astonished, not to say embarrassed,
at the turn affairs had taken. He
knew well enough, disguise it under
the form Of advice as he might, that
the merchant hesitated to trust him,
even for 80 small sum He had
never before felt so lowered in his
own estimation. This did him good.
His thoughts few fast. Suppose he
should act on the advice 80 freely
given? 1t was sound enough. Let
him show no ill-wil and bear it like
man. When this resolution was
taken, he held out his grimy hand,
with the words:
"You have,hit me hard, Mr.. Upton.
and / should lie TO you if | said it
didn't hurt But | think it will do
me good ! am pretty sure | shall
never forget it. Will you shake
hands, siri"
1t was now the merchants turn TO
show perplexity. 1t is very likely
he would preferred losing tho whole
box Of suspenders to such hearty ac-
ceptance Of his fatherly counsel.
With an embarrassed smile he took
the outstretched hand, and winched
az he felt the firm pressure Of the
fingers against his own His well OF
advice being pumped dry, he had
nothing more TO add, az his would-be
customer touched his hat and took his
departure.
AT precisely half-past six o'clock
saturday night Jerry entered the
store and purchased pair Of suspen-
dcrs, paying for them on the spot
The clerk made the sale, and Mr.
Upton, busted with his books, looked
up with perplexed countenance,
scratched the bridge Of his nose re-
iiectively, and was lost again.
81 tell you he'a above his bis'ness," !"
exclaimed Mr.. Gadford. one bright
May morning, to a group Of his old
cronies who lounged about the Har-
Dor, in idle conversation "There's
no doubt about that in my mind. A
pretty blacksmith he il, TO be ever
laatin'ly readin' an studyin'! He
isn't one Of us, that he isn't ! Ive
tried my best TO reform him, but
faint no use. He's in a manner-in
manner, | say, disgrace to the
trade, and Pm ashamed Of him ~ and